Monday, January 19, 2009

Hate Springs Eternal

A NJ couple has had their children removed from their custody after they gained notoriety for naming their children Adolf Hitler Campbell, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell.

A spokesperson for NJ family services said the state would not remove children from a home simply because of their names.

If this couple had simply liked the name Adolf Hitler (who knows why), this would have been different. But the name JoyceLynn "Aryan Nation" Campbell eliminates all doubt. Still, I was slightly conflicted.

Should parents be allowed to teach their children hate?

As a freedom-minded individual, I think you should be able to teach your children whatever you want. But as a member of the human race, I want us to get past hate.

When you think about this kind of systemic hate, there's a good chance you imagine that video clip of the Muslim TV anchor asking a three-year-old girl why she hates Jews. "They are apes and pigs." She replies. But there is plenty of hate on this side of the world. Even ideological hate, how ever peaceful it may seem, is the same breed of hate; and whenever hate is evoked, violence is sure to follow.

Wherever someone viscerally abhors a group of people, and every one of the group's members, instead of treating them like individuals, there is hate.

Hate won't be placated. If the Jews magically disappeared on Monday, Muslims would not be living in peace and harmony Tuesday. They would shift their hate to America, then the UK, then the EU, then Russia, then every other nation or people in the world, until every man, woman, and child on the planet was Muslim.

Then they'd divide themselves into sects, and hate each other.

Hate is never ending.

Hate is a congenital defect in the human race, and must be conquered by each individual.

It is amazing that our society, as a whole, frowns upon hate. The civilized world is becoming so diverse, it's difficult to perpetuate the lies that keep hate alive. But we are still anomalous. Many other "civilized" nations hate those they may not have to deal with in day-to-day life, because it's easy, and because it's human nature. What's the harm in hating a group you rarely encounter?Hate begets hate.

So, why not take these children away?

Why not throw people in jail who say hateful things?Why not kill those who incite hate?Why not go to war with civilizations that glorify hate?

Because we are all individuals, and individuals make their own decisions. Whomever may have endeavored to change their mind is of no consequence. Actions speak louder than words.

So, allow someone to stand behind a microphone and preach hate.But, punish those who hear those words, and choose to perform hateful actions.

But what about the children?

I still don't know. It's possible that Adolf Hitler Campbell would grow up to resent his name, change it at 18, and dedicate his life to the fight against hate in all its forms. Unfortunately, it seems more likely that Adolf Hitler Campbell never escapes the pit of hate his parents built, placed him in, and reinforced over the years of his development.

So what is the answer?

Do we let parents teach their children to hate, and hope they have the fortitude to make the right decision? Or do we remove children from their families, and place them with strangers?

Even though I still feel a little conflicted; I think we have to rescue children from any environment of hate, just as we would an environment of violence. Because there is little difference between the two.

Hate is more than persuasion or indoctrination.It's the idea that a life is not valuable if it ascribes to a certain belief. It's the idea that it's okay to kill someone because of their belief system or birth into a group.

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Remember Lily

Lily Burk's story is about a young girl's trust and our failure as a society. It includes a family friend of hers who joins the discussion and unbelievably offers the beliefs that perpetuate these horrors. Read the posts and comments starting here.Never forget that these people exist.

Remember James Broadnax

He wounded and executed two Christian music producers for $2 and a car so he wouldn't have to walk home. Watch the interview with the remorseless murderer that changed my life.Never forget that these people exist.

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